A delightful daisy that brightens up one’s day

THE daisy is one of the most beloved and recognisable flowers in the world.

Known for its simple yet elegant appearance, the daisy represents purity, innocence and new beginnings.

It grows naturally in many temperate regions, and is widely cultivated in gardens, parks and landscapes.

Recently, I went to the Kota Sentosa market near Kuching where at a gardening section, there was a rare variety – one with a big, dark-red flower.

The grower and I exchanged some views on the plant, including its source.

According to the grower, the seeds were bought over from overseas, proving that this flower could be grown locally.

Long story short, I was happy to buy it as a lovely addition to my home garden.

Throughout history, daisy has carried symbolic meanings: especially in European folklore, it signifies purity and innocence; in many romantic traditions, it is often associated with true love; in spring celebrations, it marks a new beginning; in arts and literature, it symbolises simplicity and natural beauty.

The common daisy belongs the sunflower family, known scientifically as the Asteraceae.

The most-commonly known species is Bellis perennis, or the English daisy.

The name daisy is derived from the Old English phrase, ‘day’s eye’, referring to opening during the day, and closing at night.

Interestingly, what appears to be a single flower is actually a cluster of many tiny flowers grouped together into a composite flower head, just like those of a sunflower.

A daisy is easily identified by these distinctive structure:
• the petals – these are usually white though some varieties are pink, red and yellow;
• the central disk – it is bright yellow, and composed of many tiny tubular florets;
• the leaves – they are small, green in colour, and arranged in the rosette close to the ground, and;
• the height – most species grow to a height of between 5cm and 20cm.

There are many types of this flower being cultivated around the world.

The English daisy is often found on lawns, growing wildly; while the Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye daisy) is taller and holds larger white petals.

The Gerbera jamesonii (gerbera, or Barberton daisy) is a popular ornamental plant, with bright flowers in the colours of red, orange, pink and yellow.

Daisy is a hardy plant that grows well in full sunlight, well-drained soil, and with moderate watering.

Propagation can be done by growing the seeds, or via cuttings using the fully-grown stems and inserting them into the potting mix.

As mentioned earlier, this plant is easy to grow and often seen overseas, it naturally grows in the temperate meadows, along the roadsides and grassy fields.

Because of their resilience, the daisy can adapt quite well to different climates including in tropical regions like Sarawak, and also in gardens.

When it comes to upkeep, drooping leaves – even slightly – signal ‘thirst’. Water the plant gently and it should recover quickly.

Happy Gardening!